DuQuoin CUSD #300

Check it out! This 4th grade class is podcasting! - Mrs. Hamburger's Classroom News! https://open.spotify.com/episode/1B77nImo4Lzp3lYtbkaWEy?si=A_cWmKRZTCay25JxyFLh4g

This is a friendly reminder that Tuesday, January 3rd, is a teacher institute day in District 300 schools. Students will come back to school on Wednesday, January 4th. We look forward to welcoming everyone back.

DISTRICT 300 RECOGNIZES 2023-24 ILLINOIS STATE SCHOLARS DHS Principal Tim McChristian is pleased to announce that three students from the graduating class of 2023 have been designated as Illinois State Scholars. They are (pictured from left to right) Ella West, Brock Hamburger, and Malayna Russell. These are outstanding students and representatives of Du Quoin High School and our community. Students chosen to be Illinois State Scholars represent approximately the top ten percent of high school seniors from 757 schools. Scholars possess strong academic potential and are chosen based on ACT/SAT test scores and class rank. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), the state’s college access and financial aid agency, presents this prestigious recognition of academic achievement to exceptional Illinois high school students annually. This year, more than 16,700 honorees join the other outstanding students who have been honored since the designation was first introduced in 1958. “On behalf of ISAC, congratulations to all of the outstanding students selected as 2023-24* Illinois State Scholars,” said ISAC Executive Director Eric Zarnikow. “Students and families faced numerous challenges over the last two years with remote learning, among other financial and personal difficulties. As we continue to recover from the pandemic, these academic achievements are a credit to the hard work and dedication of the student scholars and their families, and to the support provided by teachers, mentors, counselors, and communities in helping students meet their goals and find success as they advance on their education and career paths.” Congratulations to Brock Hamburger, Malayna Russell, and Ella West!

Elementary News for the Week of December 19th https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AHrT9lhgGKYAUTbPwKXHQ9p6dlhtXWOT/view?usp=share_link

The 21st Century program is proud to announce a chorus group for the middle school students has begun! Recently the chorus welcomed Amanda Groves, former Du Quoin junior and high school chorus teacher, during a morning practice with director, Michele Jones. Ms. Groves offered words of wisdom and provided "tips to help them improve the way they sound in fun, new ways," reported Mrs. Jones! The middle school chorus practices daily before school and will be making their public debut at the Du Quoin Holiday Lights festival in the Expo Hall Friday, Dec. 16 at 6:30 pm. Come out and celebrate these hard working students and their dedicated director, Michele Jones.

Congratulations Najjar, who was recently awarded a $1000 student scholarship from the Illinois Association for Gifted Children. Read on https://duquoinil.sites.thrillshare.com/article/935931

Elementary News for the week of December 12th https://drive.google.com/file/d/19f0tJ1UYbLE7KN8iI_q8QJ3lEzhA0POL/view?usp=share_link

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT CUSTODIAN / JANITOR Elementary-Middle School Compensation: $13.65 entry level per hour; 100% employer paid individual health insurance; 14 paid holidays; 10 vacation days; 10 sick days; 2 personal days. Shift / Work Hours: 8 hours per day; 40 hours minimum per week, second shift (3:00 PM to 11:30 PM), possible required overtime for extra-curricular events on weekends and nights. Qualifications: High school graduate; custodial, janitorial, and maintenance experience; understanding of building, grounds and physical plant operations and care. Duties: Performance of both indoor and outdoor custodial, janitorial, and maintenance duties in order to provide students with a clean, safe, comfortable, and efficient educational environment. Primary duties shall include the daily cleaning and preparation of school building including restrooms, classrooms, offices, corridors, and athletic facilities. Application Deadline: Noon, Tuesday, December 13, 2022 Make Application To: Cory Robbins, District Business Manager Du Quoin Community Unit School District #300 845 East Jackson Street Du Quoin, IL 62832 Phone (618) 542-3856

Elementary News for the week of December 5th https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gm8Ixyk_j1eeiFbfnh03zw4jQCIwNoW-/view?usp=share_link

Elementary News for the week of November 28th https://drive.google.com/file/d/19CpS70bQWKFupleioP6nP5uqoqcwSkCI/view?usp=share_link

Elementary News week of November 21st https://drive.google.com/file/d/13kRnj3AfiszgLXxSSf2LNBSyvxmF1YvC/view?usp=share_link

Elementary News week of November 14th https://drive.google.com/file/d/1As7Wu8mQ7MIsWdxYbZZGnh6-Sv7ERs82/view?usp=share_link

JOB POSTING for 2022-2023 school year: Anticipated Instructional Aide OR Individual Student Aide Position We are currently seeking applicants for an anticipated aide position which will serve students at our elementary school. This position will either be a classroom aide or an individual student aide position. This will be a full-time position and individual health insurance is provided to our full-time employees. Applicants for aide positions must meet the qualifications to be a school paraprofessional in Illinois. Those qualifications are as follows: - At least 19 years of age - ONE of the following: Associate’s degree or higher OR 60 semester hours of coursework OR high school diploma/GED and a score of 460 or higher on the ETS Parapro test OR high school diploma/GED and the following scores on the ACT Workkeys test: Applied Mathematics/Applied Math (with a score of 4) Reading for information/Workplace Documents (with a score of 4) To apply, please complete a Support Staff Application. A District 300 Support Staff Application can be accessed and downloaded from our website at this link: https://www.duquoinschools.org/browse/53919 . Applications may be returned by e-mail to Administrative Assistant Denise Hirsch at dhirsch@duquoinschools.org or turned in at the District Office at 845 E. Jackson St. Applications should be turned in by 3:00 PM on Monday, November 14, 2022. If you have any questions regarding the positions, please call the Du Quoin CUSD 300 office at 542-3856.

Congratulations to our Students of the Month.  Our October Students of the Month are: 8th Grader Raeven Jones 7th Grader Beckett File 6th Grader Chase Young 5th Grader madilynn Williams These are outstanding young men and women! We couldn't be more proud of our DMS Students of the Month.  

Elementary News for the Week of November 7th https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YWP_bOB48nzoqou-3VPCChFMiYvI5UvZ/view?usp=share_link

The Board of Education for Du Quoin CUSD 300 will have four seats up for election in the April 2023 election for local offices. Those interested in running may pick up the necessary documents, including petitions, at the Perry County Clerk's office in the Perry County Government Building. Of the four seats on the Board of Education up for election, three must come from outside the 6-1 Congressional Township. To become a school board candidate one must: - File a Statement of Economic Interests with the county clerk and obtain a receipt; these forms are available from the county clerk. - Obtain and complete a nominating petition signed by at least 50 registered voters and a Statement of Candidacy. Nominating petition forms and Statements of Candidacy are available from the county clerk. - If a candidate receives or expends $3,000 or more in an election campaign, reports must be filed with the county clerk in compliance with the Illinois Campaign Disclosure Act. - Nominating petitions may be circulated now. - The filing period for the required documents is December 12-19. Names are placed on the ballot in the order in which the nominating papers are received; a lottery is held for the first and last spots if multiple candidates’ papers are filed simultaneously in the first and last hours of the filing period. - December 19: Last day to file a Statement of Economic Interests; the receipt from the filing must be included with nominating petitions. More information about running for the school board may be accessed at the Illinois Association of School Boards website here: https://www.iasb.com/memberships-and-divisions/school-board-elections/information-for-candidates/ Questions about local procedures may be answered by the Perry County Clerk's office which can be reached at 618-357-5116 or 618-357-2434.

This is a message for District 300 families. Dear Du Quoin Community Unit School District 300 Parents & Guardians: Thank you for supporting Du Quoin public schools and the education of your child. We are proud to be able to serve you and your children and we will continually strive to provide a safe learning environment for them. The safety of your child and all children in our schools as well as the safety of the school staff and support personnel is very important to us. In order to maintain a safe environment for our children to study and learn, it is necessary that we practice our emergency and crisis response plans by having drills designed to exercise our procedures. We will be conducting various drills throughout the school year and this year this will once again include an emergency lockdown drill with students present. This message is to help you understand the importance of this as well as to understand each type of drill. The students and staff of each school will be practicing three primary emergency drills this year. They are fire/evacuation drills, lockdown drills, and tornado/severe weather drills. Each type of drill is briefly explained below. FIRE/EVACUATION DRILLS Each school will conduct multiple “fire drills” during the course of the school year. We want each student to understand and be aware of the importance of this drill and be able to exit our students out of the building as efficiently as possible. LOCKDOWN DRILLS Each school will conduct one “Emergency Lockdown Drill” with students present. While we once conducted a drill of this nature with only faculty and staff present, a recent Illinois law requires public schools to conduct a drill of this nature with students present. This type of drill will secure the school building and safely shelter all students, staff and visitors inside the building. The purpose of this drill is to keep the students safe from any danger outside or inside the building. This drill will be conducted in cooperation with our local law enforcement officers and emergency responders. We want everyone to be prepared and informed about this drill being conducted in advance. We are planning on conducting an “Emergency Lockdown Drill” today, November 1, 2022. We will conduct a drill at the elementary/middle school then conduct a drill in the same manner at the high school. All students, faculty, and staff will be aware of the drill as well. In addition to this e-mail notification today, I will also be sending out a reminder to parents and school employees just prior to the drill being initiated. TORNADO/SEVERE WEATHER DRILLS This type of drill will be conducted at least once in each building during the school year. The purpose of this drill is to be prepared to move to a safe location within the building in case of severe weather or tornado. Please remember that these safety practice drills are done to help maintain our schools as a safe place to learn and work. If you have any questions regarding any of these safety drills or other safety concerns, please contact the appropriate school principal or you can call the district office at 542-3856. Sincerely, Matthew Hickam, Supt.

Elementary News for the Week of October 31st. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G2bYDHA43QPsBwrW_V0hrwm0-Zo3SK9Y/view?usp=share_link

We want to join the Illinois Principal Association in celebrating and acknowledging the work of school principals today and especially our principals - Justin Engelmann, Aaron Hill, and Tim McChristian. Thank you for all that you do!

Quick reminder . . . we DO NOT have the 21st Century afterschool program today (Oct. 18) because of the parent-teacher conferences. Please contact your child's school if you need to make alternate arrangements for the regular 3 pm school dismissal.